Mechanical pencil



MECHANICAL PENCIL 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 7, 1946 0d- 12. 1954 A. c.P. vALsEccHl ETAL 2,591,364

MECHANICAL PENCIL I 2 sheds-sheet 2 Filed Aug. 7, 1946 Patented Oct. 12,1954 MECHANICAL PENCIL Arduino Carlos Pedro The present inventionrelates to mechanical pencils provided with a lead feeding mechanism toadvance the lead step by step by push button operation, and has for oneof its objects the provision of a pencil of this character having a leadfeeding mechanism utilizing the inertia of the lead, and comprising asingle lead gripping member and means to ensure an abrupt stop as wellas an abrupt retraction of said lead gripping member to cause the leadto advance, due to its own inertia, upon said lead gripping member.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a mechanicalpencil having a rotatable multicelled magazine with independent cellsfor each lead and means for receiving a lead from any cell of saidmagazine and guiding same to the lead gripping member and back into itsmagazine cell.

A further object resides in the means for 1ocating and retaining therotatable magazine in position with one of its cells in communicationwith the lead gripping member.

The advantages of the mechanical pencil having a lead feeding mechanismin accordance with the present invention, comprising only one leadgripping member, include the following:

(l) The lead can be advanced step by step up to the last millimeter ofits length. This characteristic constitutes an improvement whichdistinguishes the pencil according to the present invention from all thebutton operated pencils having a lead lfeeding mechanism to advance thelead step by step hitherto known and used, all of which have two leadgripping members. In these pencils the lead cannot be positivelyadvanced if its length is less than the distance between the two leadgripping members, which is usually about half an inch, and this drawbackwhich is very important in a pencil for several colors with independentcells for each lead, is avoided by the present invention.

(2) The lead is firmly secured by the lead grip.

ping member at the point of the pencil even if it is not of an exactdiameter.

(3) A lead can be released from the lead gripping member to return it tothe magazine without any other special device, with the maximumsimplicity of construction and operation.

(4) A lead can be returned to its magazine cell and another lead can beselected and advanced to writing position only by reversing the pencil,pressing a push button and rotating the magazine, all of which areaccomplished in a very short time.

The rotatable magazine is held in a position Valsecchi and Juan JorgeCapurro, Buenos Aires, Argentina Application August 7, 194s,sera1No.6s9,os4

4 Claims. (Cl. 1Z0-14.3)

corresponding to a desired writing color by means of a locking device,the latter comprising a series of openings, one for each cell, in thewall of said magazine, an opening in the housing capable of registeringwith any of the said first-mentioned openings according to the angularposition of the magazine, a movable locking member lodged in the openingin the housing and insertible in any of the first-mentioned openings forholding said magazine in selected angular position, and a clip attachedto the housing and overlying the opening in the housing to hold saidmember in one of said mst-mentioned openings.

In order that the inventionv may be clearly understood and readily putinto effect, two embodiments of same will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of the multi-color mechanicalpencil showing the lead feeding mechanism in its starting position,

Figure 2 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the pencil showingthe lead feeding mechanism just before the lead gripping member is uncoupled from the push button,

Figure 3 shows the same mechanism, just after the lead gripping memberis uncoupled from the push button,

Figure 4 shows the same mechanism during the return movement of thepush-button,

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the pencil taken on line 5-5 ofFigure 1 through the lead magazine,

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the pencil, taken on line 6-6 ofFigure 1,

Figure 7 is an elevational view of the lead gripping member, y

Figure 8 is a plan-view of the lead gripping member, and

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a single color mechanicalpencil showing the lead feeding mechanism in its starting position.

The embodiments of Figures 1 to- 9 are to be taken as examples and notas limiting the invention.

The same reference numerals describe the same parts throughout theseveral views of the draw ings.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 the pencil object of this inventioncomprises:

A tube |,Figure 1, with a point 2 longitudinally pierced by an eccentricconduit 3 at whose outlet a sleeve 4 is provided, having a bore 5 inwhich the lead gripping member 5 is wedged.

In the internal portion of tube I, suspended 3 by a flange 8, a tube 1is rotatably mounted. Rotatable tube 'I contains the lead feedingmechanism in the upper part thereof, the periphery of the lower partbeing provided with slots 9, which constitute the lead magazine. Thetubes I and 1 constitute the housing.

A ball IQ is lodged in an orifice H of tube i registering with the clipI2, and is insertible in any of the openings I3 of the tube TI. Each oneof said openings I3 as well as the marks I4 of the flange 8corresponding to a determined slot 9.

A lead-guide tube I5 is slidably mounted within the eccentric conduit 3of the tube I, which :by turning tube 1, may be brought into alignmentwith any one of the slots 9 of the lead :magazine The lead grippingmember 6 is provided with a plurality of jaws elastica-lly urged in amanner such that if no external force acts upon the lead gripping memberit is open allowing free 'passage to the lead I6.

A disc vI1 forms the base of the lead magazine and .serves as a unionbetween the lead guide tube I5 and a rod I8, with which it forms anintegral part.

The disc I1 is a closure member adapted to close all the slots 9 exceptthe one from which a lead is to be used.

The rod I8 is slidably mounted inside the bore I9 of tube `1 and isprovided with a flange 29.

A spring 21 is compressed between flange 20 of rod I8 and the top of thelead magazine.

A rod `22 is slidably mounted in the tube 1 and is provided with aflange portion 23, and another ange portion 24, this latter one beingbounded by two conical surfaces.

A bushing 25 is threaded into the tube 1 and is provided with .an innerflange 26.

A spring 21 is compressed between the inner ange 25 of bushing 25, andthe flange 23 of rod 22. i

A bushing 28 is threaded in the tube 1, abutting against the bushing 25,and is provided with an inner flange 29 bounded by two conical surfaces.

A washer 38 is housed inside bushing 25, and retained by the innerflange 29 of bushing 28.

A spring SI is compressed between washer 30 and the inner iiange 26 ofbushing 25.

A cap 32 is threaded on the bushing 28 and forms therefore an integralpart of the tube 1, and is provided with an opening 33.

The tube I together with the tube 1, the cap 32. the bushings 25 and 28,and the point 4 constitute the housing of the pencil.

A push button 34 is slidably mounted in the bushing 28 as well as in thecap 32, and is telescopically related with the rod 22.

A ball 35 is movably lodged in a bore in the wall of the push button 34.

The single color pencil of Figure 9 comprises:

A casing I1 constituted by two parts joined by the bushing 28. A bushing251 is threaded in the casing I1, abutting against the bushing 28. Abushing 38 is threaded in the casing I1 and is provided with a flange 39to retain the springs 21 and 3|. A tube 221 is slidably mounted in thecasing I1 and is provided with a flange 231 and another flange 241bounded by two conical surfaces. A tube 36, forming the lead magazine,is slidably mounted in the casing I1 and is telescopically related withthe rod 221. The ball 35 is lodged in a bore in the wall of the tube 36.A push button 341 is provided at the top of the tube 36.

The casing I1 together with the bushings 251,

f ruptly f rod 22, acting upon the lead falls to the point 4 28 and 38,and the point 4 constitute the housing of the pencil.

In Figure l the lead gripping member 6 is wedged in the opening at thepoint of the pencil, gripping a lead due to the action of the spring 2I.

In these conditions, in order to advance the lead, the push button 34 ispressed compressing spring 3|, and the ball 35 is thus guided radiallyinwardly of the button by the upper vconical surface of inner flange 29to couple the button to rod 22 and thrust it down by acting upon its-fiange 24.

The rod 22 advances together with the lead guide tube I5, compressingthe spring 2I.

'The lead gripping member 6 advances with the lead I6 initially held byits jaws, till the ball 35, sliding over the upper conical surface ofthe flange 24 lodges itself beneath the inner iiange 29 of the bushing28 (Figure 2 and Figure 3). This abruptly uncouples the rod 22 from thebutton 34.

When the rod 22 is uncoupled from the button 34, the lead grippingmemberV 9 is first abruptly stopped in its advance by the spring 2l, andthen abruptly retracted to lead gripping position, as shown in Figure 3.

When the lead gripping member is abruptly stopped, the lead continuesadvancing somewhat, sliding in the open lead gripping member due to itsinertia of motion, in the same way as an article, resting freely on amoving support continues its motion when the support is abruptlystopped.

'Then when the lead gripping member is abretracted, the lead remains inits advanced position, sliding 'in the open lead gripping member, due toits inertia of rest, inthe same way as an article resting freely on asupport, remains in its rest position when the support is abruptlyremoved.

When button 34 is lreleased it moves back with the ball 35, by theaction of the spring 3l (Figure 4), and said ball 35 sliding over thelower cone of the inner flange 29 of bushing 22 will lift the its flange24 and compress- 21. Once past the inner flange will slide over thelower cone of the ange 24 of rod 22, lodging itself on the flange 29,and the rod 22 will then return to its initial position of Figure l, bythe action of the spring 21.

The assembly has thus returned to its starting rest position, as shownAin Figure l, the only difference being that the lead has gone forward.projecting somewhat, as shown Vin Figures 3 and 4.

To return the lead to the magazine for selecting another color, thebutton 34 is fully pressed, farther than the position shown in Figure 3,with the pencil pointing upwards, in order to cause the upper wall ofthe cavity in the button 34 to act directly upon the top of the rod 22,thus -advancing the lead gripping member 6 and freeing the lead from thejaws, so that it can fall by gravity into its magazine cell. The button34 is then released.

To select another color the magazine is turned with the pencil pointedupwards, till the desired mark I4 of rotatable tube 1 coincides with theclip I2. Then by pointing the pencil downwards 4, and by pushing thebutton 34 said lead is fixed by the lead gripping member 6.

In order to nil the magazine, the cell it is deing the spring 29, theball 35 sired to replenish is aligned with the lead-guide.

tube. The pencil is pointed upwards and the push button is pressed fullydown, as when changing color, and the new lead is inserted through thelead gripping member, the jaws of which will be open.

In order to iill the magazine of the pencil of Figure 9, the push button341 must be removed to insert the leads through the top. The mode ofoperation of the lead feeding mechanism of the pencil of Figure 9 isanalogous to that described with reference to the pencil of Figure l.

Obviously, various modifications of construction and detail may beintroduced without thereby departing from the scope of the presentinvention, as herein claimed.

We claim:

1. A mechanical pencil, provided with a lead feeding mechanism utilizingthe inertia of the lead stick to advance it step by step, comprising ahousing, a lead gripping member mounted'in said housing for longitudinalmovement Y outwardly and inwardly thereof and having jaws resilientlyurged in an outward direction, means for longitudinally moving the leadgripping member and for varying the velocity of the lead gripping memberduring movement lengthwise thereof to cause the lead to advance, due toits own inertia, upon said lead gripping member, said means comprisingresilient means urging the lead gripping member inwardly of the housingto wedge it inthe opening at the point of the pencil to grip the lead toprevent its recession during writing, an inner flange on the housing forlimiting the stroke of the lead gripping member inwardly thereof when itgrips not a lead, a push button slidably mounted in the housing,resilient means urging this push button to a position projectingoutwardly of the housing, a tube connected to the push button andforming a magazine for containing a plurality of lead sticks side byside, said tube having a lower opening for passing the lead stickssingly therefrom toward the lead gripping member, a tube telescopicallyrelated to said rst mentioned tube and abutting against the leadgripping member, resilient means urging said second mentioned tubeagainst the lead gripping member, said firstlmentioned tube having anopening in the side wall thereof, a sphere movably lodged in saidopening, an inner flange on the housing, bounded by two conicalsurfaces, for guiding said sphere radially inwardly of said firstmentioned tube for coupling said two tubes during movement lengthwisethereof to advance the lead gripping member from the opening at thepoint of the pencil and against said first mentioned resilient means,and a flange on said second mentioned tube, bounded by two conicalsurfaces, for guiding said sphere radially outwardly of said firstmentioned tube for uncoupling said two tubes to allow said firstmentioned resilient means to abruptly stop and retract the lead grippingmember.

2. A mechanical pencil comprising a housing constituted by upper andlower parts rotatably related, fthe upper part of this housing beingpartially contained in the lower part thereof and provided with aplurality of longitudinal cells for leads constituting the magazine,means mounted at the outlet end of the lead magazine cells and rotatablerelative tothe upper part of the housing for selec-tively closing allthe cells except the one from which a lead is selected to be used,receiving the lead from that cell and guiding said lead to the point ofthe pencil and back to its magazine cell, said means comprising aclosure member and a lead guide tube eccentrically mounted at yaccording to the angular position of 6.. the outlet end of said closuremember, the lower par-t of the housing being prolonged in the form ofan` eccentric conduit in which the lead guide tube is slidably mountedto prevent the rotation Ibetween said closure means and the lower partof the housing, a releasable retaining device for positioning saidclosure means relative to that magazine cell, said device comprisingmeans on the housing to indicate that cell, vthe upper part of thehousing having a plurality of openings, one for each magazine cell, theywall of the lower lpart of the housing having an opening registeringwith any of said iirst mentioned openings the magazine relative to theclosure means, a sphere movably lodged in the opening on the lower partof the housing and a clip attached to the lower part of the housing andoverlying said sphere to hold it in one of the openings on the upperpart ofthe housing, and `a lead feeding mechanism utilizing the inertiao-f `the lead stick to advance it step by step comprising a leadgripping member attached to the outlet end of the lead guide tube forlongitudinal movement outwardly and inwardly of the housing and havingjaws resiliently urged in an outward direction, means for longitudinallymoving the lead gripping member and for varying the velocity of saidlead gripping member during movement lengthwise thereof to cause thelead to advance, due to its own inertia, upon the lead gripping member,said last mentioned means comprising a rod slidably mounted in thehousing and attached to the inlet end of the closure member, resilientmeans urging said rod inwardly of Ithe housing to wedge the leadgripping member in the opening at the point of the pencil to grip thelead to prevent its recession during writing, a push button slidablymounted in the housing, resilient means urging said button to a positionprojecting outwardly ofthe housing, a rod telescopic-ally related -tosaid button and abutting against said first mentioned rod, resilientmeans urging said -two rods the one against the other, said buttonhaving an opening in the side wall thereof, -a sphere movably lodged' insaid opening, an inner flange on the housing, bounded by two conicalsurfaces, for guiding said sphere radially inwardly of said button forcoupling Athis button to said second mentioned rod to advance the leadgripping member from the opening at the point of the pencil and againstsaid rst mentioned resilient means, and a flange on said secondmentioned rod, bounded by two conical surfaces, for guiding said sphereradially outwardly of the push button for uncoupling this button fromsaid rod to all-ow said first mentioned resilient means to abruptly stopand retract the lead gripping member.

3. A mechanical pencil comprising a housing constituted by upper andlower parts rotatably related, the upper part of this housing lbeingprovided with a plurality of longitudinal cells for leads constitutingthe magazine, means mounted at the outlet end of -the magazine cells androtatable relative to fthe upper part of the housing for selectivelyclosing all the cells except the one from which a lead is selected -tobe used, receiving the lead from that cell and guiding said lead to thepoint of the pencil and back to its magazine cell, means to prevent therotation between said lclosure means and the lower part of the housing,a releasable retaining device for positioning said closure meansrelative to that cell,

and fa llead `lfeeding 4mechanism utilizing 'the A-in'- ertia of thelead stick to advance it step by step comprising a Ylead gripping memberattached to the outlet fend of said closure means for longitudinalmovement outwardly and inwardly of the housing and having jawsresiliently -urged in 4an outward direction, meansior longitudinallymoving the lead 4grinning member and for varying the velocity of saidlead gripping member during movement lengthwise thereof toca-use thelead to advance, due to its own inertia, upon the lead gripping member,said last mentioned means compris-ing a r-od slidably mounted in theupper part of Athe yhousing and attached to the inlet end of saidclosure means, resilient means urging said rod inwardly of the housingto wedge the lead gripping member inthe opening at the point ofthepencil to grip the lead to prevent its recession duringwriting, -a pushbutton slida'bly mounted in the upper part of the housing, resilientmeans urging said button to a, position projecting outwardly of thehousing, a rod telescopically related to said button and abuttingagainst said rst mentioned rod, resilient means urging said two rods theone against the other, said button having an opening in the side wallthereof, a sphere movably lodged in said opening, an inner flange -onthe upper part of the housing, bounded by two conical surfaces, forguiding said sphere radially inwardly of the push lbutton for couplingsaid second mentioned rod to said button during movement lengthwisethereof to advance the lead gripping member from the opening fat thepoint of the pencil and against said iirst mentioned resilient means,land a flange on said second mentioned rod, bounded by two Vconicalsurfaces, for guiding 'said sphere radially outwardly of the push buttonfor uncoupling said second mentioned rod from said lbutton to allow saidrst mentioned resilient means to abruptly s'top and retract the leadgripping member.

'4. A mechanical pencil provided with a lead feeding mechanism utilizingthe inertia of the lead stick to advance it step :by step comprising ahousing, a lead gripping member mounted in said housing for longitudinalmovement outwardly and inwardly thereof and having jaws elasticallyurgedin an outward direction, means for longitudinally moving the leadgripping memb'er Iand ,for varying the velocity of said lea'd grippingmember during movement lengthwise thereof to' cause the lead to advance,due to its own inertia, upon said lead gripping member, said meanscomprising resilient means urging said lead gripping member inwardly ofthe housing to wedge it in the opening at the point of the housing tovgrip the lead to prevent its recession during writing, a push buttonslidably mountedin the housing, resilient means yurging said button to aposition projecting outwardly of the housing, a rod telescopicallyrelated to said button and abutting against said lead vgripping member,resilient means urging said rod against the lead gripping member, saidbutto-n having an opening in the side wall thereof, a sphere movablylodged in said opening, an inner ange `on lthe housing, bounded by twoconical surfaces, for guiding said sphere radially inwardly of the pushbutton for coupling said rod to said button `during movement lengthwisethereof to advance the lead gripping member from the opening at thepoint of the housing and against said first mentioned resilient means,and a ange on 'said rod, bounded by two corneal surfaces, for guidingsaid sphere radially outwardly of the push button for uncoupling saidrod from said button to allow said first mentioned resilient means toabruptly stop and retract said lead gripping member.

References circa in the 'fue of this patent UNITED sTATEs PATENTS NumberName Date 876,228 Newman et al Jan. 7, 1'90'8 1,666,405 Caldwell et alApr. 17, 1-928 1,908,386 Wahl May '9, 1933 1,964,154 Hertz June 26, 1934FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 37,270 Germany Oct. 16, 17886359,276 Germany Sept, 21, 1922 437,867 Germany Dec. 4, 1926

